“It was quite rude and patronising to say that just because of my age that my mummy and daddy look after me, when in reality they don’t give me a penny.

“He has no idea about my family background. I have every right to be there.”

Coun Gardiner said afterwards: “It wasn’t personal. The political arena is not a nice game, it’s a messy game. You take what’s said on the chin.

“There was no malice. If somebody wants to stick their head above the parapet they are there to be shot at, the same as if somebody wants to have a go at me.”

The majority of councillors voted in favour of keeping their council tax relief scheme in 2016/17 at the Lancaster City Council meeting on Wednesday.

Skerton East Labour councillor, Janet Hall, who moved the motion, said: “I am proud that we are one of the few councils to have continued to provide this support despite the national cuts by the previous Tory/Liberal Democrat Government.

“This is vital help for our working poor - people who work hard but are on low pay - and we have seen in-work poverty increase in recent years as wages have failed to keep pace with the cost of living.

“Now more than ever this support is needed on the back of the Tory Government’s new cuts to working tax credits which previously provided much needed support to families in this situation.

“I don’t want any family in this district to have to choose between heating and eating.”

Coun Peter Williamson, leader of the Conservatives, voted against the motion with the majority of Tories.

He said: “I’ve heard the usual arguments that people in poverty shouldn’t have to pay anything towards council services. But what keeps people in poverty is more complex than whether you keep £1 or take £1 off them.

“We’re not talking about pensioners, the disabled or vulnerable groups. 66% of those people of working age in Lancaster, are in work. Everybody should pay a bit.”

Two Conservative councillors, Charles Edwards and Brett Cooper, both from Bare, voted for the motion.

Coun Edwards said: “This gives us the opportunity to say we’re not nasty Tories or wasteful Labour, we as a council are putting money back into the pockets of people who matter. I’d like to support it.” This led to a round of applause from the chamber, including members of rival parties.